The effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on the competitiveness of firms in the Mobile Telecommunication industry in Ghana

Emmanuel Selase Asamoah

Ekonomika a Management, 2015, vol. 2015, issue 4

Abstract: The study examined the effect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in achieving competitive advantage in the Mobile Telecommunication Industry in Ghana. Specifically, the study determined the extent of implementation of CSR policies by the Mobile Telecommunication companies, ascertained the factors influencing the companies to engage in CSR, examined the perceived influence of the practice of CSR in achieving competitive advantage among the companies, and identified the main challenges facing the Telecom companies in the implementation of CSR. The study used quantitative methodology to achieve its purpose. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. Overall 360 employees were selected from all the 6 Mobile Telecommunication companies operating in Ghana. The companies selected included GLO, AIRTEL, VODAFONE, MTN, EXPRESO and TIGO. Only senior managers of the various firms were sampled for the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used in the data analysis. The study found that the performance of the companies CSR practices was high in the areas of community support, environmental issues, and ethics. The companies engaged in CSR for various reason including enhancing the reputation of the company’s, for positive image and branding of the company, to gain some competitive advantages, to improve business performance etc. The companies gained to moderated extent competitive advantage by engaging in CSR, VODAFONE gained higher competitive advantage than all the mobile telecommunication companies. A positive feeling complacency was the main challenge of the companies in undertaking their CSR initiatives and practices. The study recommends that shareholders should increase their commitment level to the practice of CSR as such practice was found to have effect in achieving competitive advantage.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; competitiveness; Mobile Telecommunication; Corporate Social Responsibility; Competitiveness; Mobile Telecommunication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M00 M1 M3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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